Dec 19 2008

How To Control Dog Barking Problem

Barking is a perfectly natural canine behavior. Birds sing; frogs croak; and a dog barks, whines and howls. If you have a dog, you better expect some barking, whining or howling. It is unrealistic and unfair to think you can train your dog to stop barking altogether. However, you, your neighbors and your dog will all be much happier if the barking is under control.

Dogs are social animals. They need friends and companionship. Understand them and train them. Check out this link Dog Training Masters Mini Course for help. You will not disappoint

Basic Training

You’ll also have far more success stomping out barking if you’ve given your dog a basic training course. Learning to sit, stay, and heel helps you dog understand that there are times when you’ll want him to do certain things and he’ll be rewarded or praised if he gets the behavior right. Then, when it comes to training him to stop barking, he’ll at least know you’re trying to teach him something.

When you do train the barking out of him, set up training sessions. Don’t try to train your dog only when the barking moment arrives. Instead, train him ahead of time. If your dog barks every time there’s a knock at the door, have a friend come by and knock. Give your dog a treat before he can bark. You’ll condition him to look to you when there’s a knock at the door instead of reacting by barking.

If your dog barks at people and other dogs when you’re out for a walk, have a friend come around the corner at you with his dog. Go back and forth around that corner, commanding your dog to not bark. After about 20 minutes of this your dog will understand which behavior is displeasing you. Be patient. Training takes time.

Divert Your Dog’s Attention

Sometimes controlling your dog’s barking habit is as simple as using one of many diversion techniques. In many cases, the principle of “out of sight out of mind” works well to control dog barking. Some dog owners have changed see-through chain-link fences to solid fences to keep passers by out of view of their dog. You can also get the object of their barking out of sight by changing what the dog is looking at. Perhaps there’s something in your own yard that’s triggering his barking, maybe a resident squirrel? or the neighbors cat that sits up on the wall while you’re at work?

Make your dog comfortable and control their barking problem. Understand them, check out some of the best information on online dog training tips